Protestation Returns, 1641-2
Transcribed from ''Dorset Records, The Protestation Returns preserved in The House of Lords, 1641-2, Edited by Edward Alexander Fry'', pages 137 and 138, by Chris Bellers, with thanks to Carol Jamieson.
Background
Charles I succeeded James I in 1625 and followed his father’s belief in his divine appointment. That, and his marriage to the French King’s daughter, Henrietta Maria, a practising Catholic, led to confrontation with the House of Commons, which issued the 1628 Petition of Right.
In 1629, Charles I dissolved parliament and relied instead for advice on the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Laud, and Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford. The latter was sent to pacify Ireland. To raise money, Charles levied ‘ship money’. In 1637, Charles’s efforts to impose Laud’s new high-church prayer book on Scotland led to riots there. Charles declared a ‘bishops’ war on Scotland but his army was beaten back to Newcastle. Strafford was recalled to England in 1639 and proposed using an Irish army to help defeat the Scots. Rumours spread that this Catholic army might be used against Parliament. There was religious unrest, partly because Henrietta Maria was deeply unpopular, but also because of Laud’s High Church views and suspicions that he covertly favoured Roman Catholic doctrines. Desperate for money, Charles recalled parliament in 1640. Parliament moved quickly to assert control over the King, impeach Laud and execute Strafford.
Protestation
In May 1641, Parliament enacted the Protestation. This was an oath to maintain and defend “the true Reformed Protestant Religion….His Majesty’s royal person, honour, and estate….the power and privileges of Parliament” and “the lawful rights and liberties of the subject”.
The oath was intended to cement loyalty to Parliament as well as to affirm the protestant religion. Having been signed by every member of the Commons and the Lords, it was distributed by the members to their counties. Anyone not signing was unfit to hold office. Later, it was decided that all males over 18 should take the Protestation Oath. In Dorset, the oath was taken early in 1642.
The following is the Protestation Return for Fontmell Magna. It is headed ‘Funtmill Tything’ but the number of names listed suggests that an area larger than a Tything is included.
Robt. Potter, minister Nicholas Meatyeard Phillip Beamond Henry Weast Robert Horder Churchwardens: Robert Plowman Walter Horder Wm Vincent Thomas Haskole John Turner Thomas Rideout Henry Reade Charles Plowman Andrew Deane William Reade Overseers: Eadward Wittrege Tames Plowman William Munckton Thomas Haskole Robert Meatyeard William Henbury Nathaniell Habbitt John Lush, se. Phillip Skiner j Beniamen Hiscocke John Lush, ju. John Plowman James Burte Richard Dibben J Richard Still William Seamor Thomas Hext John Still Robert Burte George Vincent John Foote Morgaine Seamor Robert Vincent John Plowman Robert Seamor Richard Vincent Christouer Meatyeard Nicolas Lambert John Reade John Wairam John Bowden John Haskole William Graye Richard Haskole Eadward Wittrige Christouer Warram Christouer Reade Henry Chamberline Thomas Haskole William Muncke George Weast George Burte Henry Fealtam Andrew Preast Richard Cqale John Crine Roger Sweatman John Reade Henry Haskole Franceis Doune Thomas Turner William Ridout James Haruey Richard Vincent William Waram Thomas Haskole John Winscumbe John Haskole James Turner Christouer Houill Thomas Beamond William Haskole Robert Still Henry Chamberline John Chamberline William Coale John White John James John Still William Stent John Vincent Robert Tuffen William Miles Roobert Vincent Thomas Plowman John Brookeman John Dauey Richard Still Richard Still Marke Sprage Eadmond Squibbe William Petty John Weast Eadmond Michell Thomas Dauey Christouer Sweatman John Reade John Waram Henry Turner George Haskole William Budden William Plowman William Munckton Ambrous Vincent Richard Turner Mathew Russell Larrance White Thomas Younge Eadmond Warde William Turner Joallife Toogood William Batte John Vincent John Munckton Richard Weast Robert Bowden John Russell Eadmond Abbitt Robert Horder Henry Chamberline Robert Louell Walter Sweatman William Munckton William Fare William Bowden Thomas Mitchell John Hardeman, Tayler John Beamont Overseer for the poore: John Poore, sen. William Beamont John Yonge, sen., Steven Poore William Collens John Modforde Thomas Bowden William Monke, sen. John Yonge, ju. Robert Carde John Hardeman, ju. Robert Harvie Morgaine Carde William Adeane Thomas Hardeman, ju. William Weast Thomas Yonge William Oake John Still Thomas Hardeman, sen. John Hardeman, ju. Robert Seamer John Snooke William Monke, ju. Christouer Meatyeard William Thorne, ju. John Nipred, ju. John Nicholls Edward Weare Eadward Coombe, se. George Chippe Henry Jenson Eadvvard Burges, ju. John Coombe, ju. George Trath Nicholas Collens Richard Coombe William Thorne, sen. Henry Coombe, se. Thomas Monke John Nipred, sen. Robert Collens Henry Coombe John Hardeman, sen. Richard Nicholls Henry Younge Tymothy Weare William Yellow William Duffitt John Weare, sen. Robert Lanning John Lewes Isaake Weare John Hartwell Thomas Hooper, gent. Thomas Gosney Francis Coombe Giles Hooper, gent. James Thorne, Tayler Robert Burges William Morgan, ju. William Boles William Nicholls Henry Thorne Thomas Dibben Ambrose Morgan Richard Kibbie
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